Biking to Nationals Park

[RunnerBiking]

With this weekends Metro mess I am planning to bike to Saturday’s Nats game. I’m planning to go down the Capital Crescent to West Potomac park and travel along the waterfront. The question is whether Maine Ave. is pretty safe or whether I would be better off on the sidewalk there until I get to P Street. Having not biked there before I’m hoping someone has some insight as to what I can expect.

Topic

[creadinger]

Once you get to Maine Ave the hard part is over in my opinion. At Maine Ave you have two options…. You can jump on Water Street and when that ends continue down the connecting sidewalk to P St. Or you could instead continue on Maine Ave, make a right on 4th St and then turn left on P St.

I think on a weekend you should find that Maine Ave should be ok for riding on. If it’s a little too trafficky for you, then do the Water Street option. That area is part of my commute and it’s not bad at all. For the return trip I would come up Water Street, because there’s no easy way to get off of it going northbound.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Maine is generally fine (assuming you mean the section east of 14th, since you say you’re coming from West Potomac Park). The sidewalk from 14th to the fish market is very wide, but a lot of tour buses drop off there, so there can be lots of oblivious peds and idiot drivers turning into the fish market parking lot. Most eastbound riders take the street and it’s not bad at all since traffic slows around the entrance to the fish market. Once you pass the fish market, I recommend hopping on Water street, which will take you all the way to the ART connecter to P street. Once you hit P street, you’re golden…it kinda has a slightly sketchy feel once you pass Fort McNair, but I’ve never had any problems riding through there. Since the bike valet (pretty much the best service ever) is at the NE corner of the stadium and there will be a LOT of peds on S. Capitol and on N, I recommend crossing S. Capitol at P street, turning right and riding down to Potomac, then taking that up to 1st/N where the valet is. Kinda roundabout, but probably easier…

[Mikey]

For a nicer ride, from water street jump left onto 7th then right onto “EYE” street. take this all the way down past south capital then turn right on Half Street and ride down either half or first street. these neighborhoods are nicer, traffic is less, it path is well lit, and it puts you right at the bike valet.

Hope this helps.

[Steve O]

And don’t forget that there’s free valet bike parking right at the park. I commend you for cycling to the game!

[Author]

Replies